Race-track starting-gate.



PATENTED JULY 3, 1906.

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affiorney L. M. DAVIS. RAGE TRACK STARTING GATE.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.23, 1905.

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No. 825,018. PATENTED JULY 8, 1906.

L. M. DAVIS.

RACE TRACK STARTING GATE.

APPLICATION FILED 00123, 1905.

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No. 825,018. PATENTED JULY 3, 1906. L. M. DAVIS.

RAGE TRACK STARTING GATE.

APPLICATION FILED 00123, 1905 s SHEETSSHEET s.

6 by I\ Q N i 7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RACE-TRACK STARTI NG-GATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 3, 1906.

Application filed October 23, 1905. Serial No. 283,968.

To all whom 276 may concern.-

Be it known that I, LUTHER M. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Race-Track Starting-Gates, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the drawings, which form a part thereof.

My invention relates to improvements in the construction and means for operating race-track starting-gates.

The object of my invention is to provide a race-track starting-gate having a series of stalls with antomatically-opening gates at one end, having a device for releasing the gates quickly and simultaneously. These objects, will hereinafter be seen, are accomplished by the novel and useful device which I have discovered. I attain these objects and other practical advantages by the mechanism, construction, combination, and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

It is well known that racing animals can seldom be made to start from the same place at the same time because of their naturally high nervous temperament and the inability of men to control them so as to efiect a proper and fair start. Especially is this so when there is no means provided to bar their way over the starting-line until a signal may be given and the bar removed to allow their passage. To supply the need for such abar or gate, I haveprovided a device which is economical, safe, speedy, and practical and may be set up for use or removed quickl 1n the drawings, Figure 1 is a side e evation of my device, showing a horse in position in one stall and the gates open. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of one stall with gates thereof and part of another stall with surrounding parts of all. Fig. 3 is a plan view of one pair of gates. Fig. 4 is an elevation of part of two gates, showing rings for detentpin and relative positions. vation of the detent-pin. Fig. 6 is an elevation showing a coil-spring as another means of opening the gates. Fig. 7 is aperspective view of two stalls provided with my gates, one open and one closed.

Like numerals and letters refer to like parts throughout the views.

In my device I provide a series of as many stalls as may bedesired, such as the stalls A Fig. 5 is an ele.

and B, Fig. 7. The stalls are formed by frames composed of vertical pipes or rods 8 8 8 and 9 9 9", which are connected in pairs by a suitable number of transverse bars 10 1O 10, as between the pipes 8 and 9, Fig. 7. The vertical pipes 8 8 8" are provided with able dimensions to be driven into the ground, and also with collars c c c 0, provided with lugs adapted to engage the foot in pressing the standards into the ground. These collars are at a suitable distance from the lower ends of the pipes to prevent. them going farther into the ground than desired and to steady them when set up in position. The pairs of vertical pipes 8 9 8 9 and 8" 9", which with their bars form the sides or frames of the stalls, are held in position by means of the hooked rods 13 13" of suitable length, Figs. 1, 2, 7 These are adapted to engage staples on the upper ends of each pipe, and thus retain the frames at suitable distances apart to form the stalls. At the sides of a series of such stalls and at the front and rear are placed securely in the ground vertical posts C C of suitable length and dimensions. The outside vertical pipes 8 9 are rigidly secured to the posts C C, rezpectively, by the straps 17 17, Fig. 7. At the other side of the series of stalls the vertical pipes are secured to the posts C C in a similar manner or by means of ropes, or they may be secured to guy-stakes by means of ropes. is to provide suitable means for quickly releasing the frames at their upper ends so they may quickly and easily be moved to one slde. These stalls are each provided with two gates D D, Figs. 1, 2, 7, in front on each vertical frame, and each gate has suitable hinges e e e 6.

At the side of each gate at a suitableposition on the vertical pipes 9 9 9 horizontal pulley-armsff, Figs. 1, 3, 7, of proper length are fixedly secured to the pipes. These pul ley-arms carry at their ends the pulleys g g g. Elastic cords h 71. h, having a suitable tension, are secured to the verticalpipes at the bases of the pulley-arms and thence passing over the pulleys are secured to the gates D D at the outer edges thereof.

The gate D is provided at a suitable place near its outer edge with a horizontal ringlock 14 and the gate 1) in a similar place with two horizontal ringlocks 14 14, adapted to receive the ring-lock 14 between them, Figs. 2, 4, 7, and all of the ring-locks are tapering lower ends 1] 11', Figs. 1, 2, of suit- My object IIO adapted to receive and engage the vertical detent-pins 15 15, Figs. 2, 5, 7. The detentpins are suspended vertically in. suitable position by means of short cords 16 16 at the lower ends thereof, the upper ends of which are secured to the transverse cord E. The operating-cord 'E is fixedly secured to the post C at one end, while the other end passes over the pulley 17, securedto the top of the post C and over the pulley 18, secured to the post C at a suitable height thereon. The other end of the cord E then extends to some place convenient to the location of the operator, so that he may release or draw it taut. The sides of the stalls and the gates are covered or hung with some suitable fabric F F F F.

Instead of the elastic cords h h h, which are adapted to hold the gates open when released and at the same timepermit of their being closed and secured, acoil-spring G, Fig. 6, may be employed to accomplish a like purpo e.

It will be seen that when a series of these stalls, with their gates, are set up in position on a race-track the gates are closed and locked by means of the detent-pins. The horses are driven into the several stalls, which being of suitable width prevent the animals from turning to the side, crowding each other, or whirling about, and the sides being free from projecting parts allow them to spring forward upon the gates being opened. This is accomplished by the operation of quickly and firmly drawing taut the operating-rope'E on the signal being given by the starter. The detent-pins are thereby drawn upward, at once releasingthe gates, which are automatically swung wide open and retained in that position by means of the elastic cords h h h. The covered sides and front prevent the animals from seeing in those directions, and this in connection with the gate or bar in front enables the jockey to retain better control of an animal, also to obtain a fair and proper start and to save much time and nervous energy of both men and animals. It will be seen, further, that for races of like or greater distances thana single circuit of a track or course the stalls can be quickly and easily removed from the track by displacing the movable hooked rods 13 13, when each frame can be lifted from the ground and carried to one side ready to be as quickly set up for the next start with equal facility and promptness. I prefer to operate the gates with the elastic openingcords h h h; but other means, such as the spring G, Fig. 6, may also be employed without variance from my invention.

Other changes may also be made by persons skilled in the art other than I have mentioned without departure from the principles of my invention.

I claim 1. In a race-track starting-gate, the combination of a series of stalls, formed by movable side frames having vertical rods adapted to be set in the earth; means to secure and retain the upper ends of the frames at suitable distances apart; two automaticallyopening front gates D D for each stall, hinged to the frames at the sides; the gate D having one horizontal ring-lock 14 adapted to pass between two similar upper and lower ring-locks 14 14 with which the gate D is provided, and said ring-locks being adapted to receive and engage the vertical detent-pin 15; elastic cords h h of suitable tension secured to the frames at one end, passing over the pulleys g g on arms f f and secured to the gates at the other end and at a suitable place; the transverse operating-rope E provided with vertical cords 16 16 secured to it at suitable distances and of suitable lengths, at the lower ends of which are secured vertical detent-pins adapted to engage the ring-locks of the gates; the vertical guy or supporting posts C C and C C; the operating-rope E being secured at one side of the series of stalls to the front guy-post C and passing over pulleys suitably placed on the front supporting-post O to the location of the operator, and adapted to be loosened or drawn taut for releasing or raising the detent-pins; and fabric covering for the gates and side frames; all substantially as described.

2. In a race-track starting-gate, the combination of a stall formed by movable side frames having vertical rods adapted to be set in the earth; means to secure and retain the upper ends of the frames at suitable distances apart; two automatically-opening,

.horizontal swinging front gates for each stall; the gate D having a horizontal ring-lock near its outer edge, adapted to pass between the upper and lower similar ring-locks 14 14 on the gate D, said locks being adapted to receive and engage a vertic'al detent-pin 15; fabric covering for the gates and frames; elastic devices to draw and retain the gates wide open, and means to raise and lower the detent-pins, all substantially as described.

3. A race-track starting-gate having movable side stall-frames and means to retain them in upright position, two horizontallyswinging front gates each provided with a horizontal ring-lock on one gate and two of like kind on the other relatively above andbelow the first, also with means to draw and retain the gates wide open, and further provided with a vertical detent-pin having means to raise and lower the same: all substantially as described.

L. M. DAVIS.

Witnesses:

C. L. NroHoLs, W. F. HUBBARD. 

